The Christmas season provides an excellent opportunity for church outreach activities. Your congregation can be a beacon of hope and tangible help during what can be a difficult season for many. Here are several outreach ideas to consider as you plan for this upcoming holiday season.

12 Christmas Outreach Ideas:

#1 - Go Christmas Caroling

Gather your musically inclined church members and spread some holiday cheer with Christmas carols. Give carolers postcards with information about your Christmas Eve service that they can hand out. Coordinate with local nursing homes or hospitals to see if you can bring your group to sing for residents and patients.

#2 - Organize a Winter Coat Drive

Invite your congregation to donate gently used winter coats. Work with a local shelter or non-profit to redistribute the coats to those in need. Also, ask church members if they have friends or neighbors who are in need of winter coats. They could deliver the coats and invite the recipients to Christmas services.

#3 - Participate in a Christmas Parade

An annual tradition in many communities is a town Christmas parade. Find out how your church could participate in the parade in your area. You might be able to sponsor a tent and provide hot chocolate and snacks. Another option might be to make a float to represent your church with Christmas handheld signs carried by smiling volunteers. Share the Christmas story and celebrate Christmas with your neighbors through a fun holiday float. Bring lots of people from the congregation, provide volunteers, and support your local community.

#4 - Offer a Parent’s Day Out

Give parents a chance to finish their Christmas shopping by providing a day of free or low-cost childcare. Parents can shop more freely without inquisitive little ones in tow. Kids can have a fun-filled time at the church and won't know what gifts their parents purchased for Christmas.

#5 - Host a Christmas Worship Service

Another community outreach could involve an evening of Christmas music, worship, and carols at the church. Consider inviting local college or high school musicians to join your worship team for the concert.

#6 - Adopt Needy Families

Gather Christmas gift wish lists from families within the congregation or community who need extra help this Christmas. Put up a special tree in the front lobby of the church and hang those lists as ornaments on the tree. Ask the congregation to take an ornament and shop for that family. They can bring the gifts and toys back to the church so your team can deliver them before Christmas.

#7 - Support a Local Shelter or Food Pantry

Talk with local homeless shelters or food pantry leaders to see if they could use extra help in December. Gift them with church members to volunteer, help restock shelves, serve a holiday meal, distribute clothing or groceries, and more. Your area non-profits will appreciate the assistance, and you’ll give church members a chance to get to know other volunteers.

#8 - Wrap Christmas Presents

Holiday shopping can be time-consuming. Give shoppers the opportunity to have someone else handle the gift wrapping for them. See if you can set up a table at a nearby shopping center to wrap gifts for shoppers. You could use a custom table throw to spread the word about the church. People can cross off another item from their holiday to-do list, your volunteers can minister to people as they wrap gifts, and you can get the word out about Christmas Eve services.

#9 - Support Deployed Troops

Many service members are away from their families over Christmas due to a deployment. Find a local Blue Star Mother’s organization or American Legion group if you’re not close to a military installation. They should be able to provide APO addresses for you to send care packages and Christmas cards to deployed service members. If your church is close to a military installation, see if you can host a Christmas meal or special service to bless the family members left behind.

#10 - Provide Snow Removal Assistance

If you live in an area with frequent snowfall, consider adopting individuals who are unable to clear their own driveways and walkways. Recruit volunteers to go to these homes whenever a snowstorm hits to remove snow and clear walkways.

#11 - Attend School Plays and Concerts

Support the youth of your community by attending their school plays, concerts, and special events during the holiday season. Some of these kids may not have both parents involved in their lives. Rally around them and ensure they know that church members care about them and that you’re proud of them.

#12 - Deliver Christmas Cards to Nursing Homes

Honor the elderly members of your community and brighten their day this Christmas. Ask children and adults alike to make or sign Christmas cards for local nursing home residents. Coordinate a visit to deliver these cards, sing a few carols, provide hot cocoa or apple cider, and decorate a Christmas tree if possible. You can make a big difference in the lives of these residents by sharing your time and Christmas cheer with them.

We can celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by being His hands and feet in our communities. Serving others and spreading some Christmas cheer can be an incredible experience for volunteers and recipients alike.

Need some more ideas? Here are 10 MORE Christmas Outreach Ideas for your church!